1999 ‘Mozart è un assassino’ Directed by Sergio Martino
When Chiara, a violinist at the conservatory, is brutally murdered after a performance, inspector Maccari is put on the case. Maccari, whose own wife was once murdered by a serial killer, suspect professor Baraldi, the director of the conservatory. But as more fall prey to the killer, Maccari comes to a shocking conclusion...
Italy
Italy
Sergio Martino's Mozart is a Murderer exhibits elements of both poliziotteschi and gialli but really is neither. By the 90's the traditional Italian killer movies were out of season, so here the focus is shifted on to the characters.
I understand that the funds were probably severely limited, but the lack of any visual panache is just criminal. No elaborate sets or fancy camera work, just very econo film making.
In the end, Mozart is a Murderer felt more like a double episode of some Euro police procedural tv show than an actual movie.
Probably only interesting for Martino completists.
Not a vintage giallo by any means but a very decent late effort from Sergio Martino who brought us such gems as, The Strange Vice of Mrs Wardh and All the Colours of the Dark. Has something of the feel of TV movie perhaps in the seeming lack of budget and more particularly in this rather bloodless and sexless tale. Gripping tale it nevertheless is, however, and there are so many conservatoire students and teachers to keep us guessing whilst a very large number fall victim to the mysterious killer who leaves a mark upon the stomach. Enzo De Caro is excellent in the lead investigator role. I didn't recognise him but it seems he is a fairly big name…
Martino’s final giallo to date, Mozart is a Murderer is more of a police procedural with occasional murders than a thriller. Looking more like a TV show than a film, it has a decent mystery and likeable leads, but everything else — from the cinematography to the music to the editing — just feels rushed and a little off.
An extra half star for the looniest, most absurdly brilliant killer’s motivation I’ve ever seen in a giallo.
Nicht ohne Mängel, aber auch nicht uninteressant für Liebhaber des alten Maestros.
Watched as part of my #GialloSettembre challenge.
A group of music students are being bumped off one by one by a black gloved killer with a stiletto knife. The killer leaves a mysterious symbol etched into the flesh of the victims and seems to be thrown into the mood to kill by the tones of Wolgang Amadeus. It's up to Comissioner Maccari, whose wife was killed by a serial killer and his new lover, therapist Marta to find out who it is.
One of the better late nineties giallo as you would hope with Master Martino at the helm.
Story and setting-wise I like it. But due to low budget, it's very light-hearted. And, I guess also due to low budget, it has a very made-for-2000s-TV-feel. And that's not a good feel.
Sorry, Sergio Martino. But it was a though one to get through.
Sergio Martino’s giallo glory years may have been behind him at the dawn of the 21st Century, but MOZART IS A MURDERER - despite its humble TV movie origins - still proves that he remained a master of the art of Italian murder.
Martino’s giallo revolves around the killings of a group of young music students at a college that begins the night after a recital of classical music ends prematurely after one of them hits a bum note. The mistake so angers their music teacher, Professor Baraldi (Alberto Di Stasio) that he threatens to suspend them all. This seemingly innocuous error kickstarts a series of deaths that may, or may not, be linked to the murders six years ago…
Several musicians get killed while the investigating detective gets personally involved with the case...
A surprisingly suspenseful and extremely pacey late Giallo by genre master Sergio Martino. He combines the police procedural with your usual Giallo mystery stripping off any sleaze in favor of moving the plot forward constantly. It's not too hard guessing who the murderer is after the third act kicks in and a major event happens but the killer's motive and resolution of the film is very satisfying and inventive.
The strongest element are the characters though. Focusing on the detective who tries to solve the case he marks one of the most fleshed out and interesting characters the Giallo has ever provided. This is also helped…
